A therapeutic
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Magical Bhutan Tour ( 7N/ 8D ) Packages

From the alpine valley of Paro to the bustling capital city of Thimpu, the magnificent Dzong at Punakha and the remote Phobjikha Valley, this journey takes you across the whole Bhutanese landscape, giving you a glimpse into a land that time seems to have forgotten.

ITINERARY DETAIL

On arrival, guests will be received at the airport by 1-derful Bhutan Tours’s guide who will orientate you on the driving rules and regulations of Bhutan.

Drive to your hotel and check-in. You can rest for a while and refresh yourself before having lunch. Post lunch you’ll visit the following

The National Museum: It used to be the watch tower for the Dzong below and the design is believed to be conch like, one will be able to notice how the corridors spiral down to the other entrance/ exit. However, there was a major earthquake which caused quite a bit of damage to the structure and the artifacts have been shifted to a newer building just above. The artefacts include a range of items which represent the history of Bhutan. (Time spent will be about half an hour)

Paro Rinpung Dzong: The name means Fortress of a heap of Jewels is now the center for District Administrations’ and Religious activities’. The structure itself dates back to the 17th century and is quite an imposing building watching over the valley of Paro. The annual festival (Tsechu) starts from this place and the dances take place in the courtyard outside. (Time spent will be about half an hour)

Overnight at a hotel in Paro

DAY 2: Paro – Haa – Thimphu

Post early breakfast, check out of your hotel and start driving up towards Chelela Pass, which, at 3800m is the highest paved road in Bhutan. It’s about 1 - 1 ½ hours till the pass and on a clear day you will be able to see the beautiful Mount Jomolhari and the valleys of Paro and Haa below on either side. Continue driving down towards Haa valley. As you drive down you will notice 3 peculiar shaped hills, these hills are called Meri Puensum and are considered sacred. Take a drive around town before continuing your drive towards Thimphu. The drive from Haa to Thimphu is a beautiful one as you come across small settlements all along the way. Overall, it’ll take about 6-7 hours of drive.

(Distance from Paro to Haa is around 70kms and takes about 2 – 2 ½ hours. Haa to Thimphu is about 110kms and takes about 3 – 4 hours)

Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

DAY 3: Thimphu sightseeing

Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory: This is a private factory and they manufacture a special watermark paper as well as products such as lampshades, envelopes and other objects made of traditional Bhutanese paper. They make great gifts to take home with you and are genuinely unique. It is not just the texture of these handmade paper products that will intrigue you, but also their unique earth tones and natural hews. This factory manufactures a special watermark paper as well as products such as lampshades, envelopes and other objects made of traditional Bhutanese paper. Bhutan protects its environment through long-term sustainability, and they follow it because they do not destroy the plant when they extract the raw material required. Paper products are manufactured from "daphne papyracea". (Time spent will be about 15 – 20 minutes)

Folk Heritage Museum: The folk heritage museum was open to the general public in 2001 upon completion. It treasures troves of culture and rich Bhutanese heritage provide rich insights into the Bhutanese ethos. Try to schedule your visit during the morning hours since the museum is less crowded at that time and there is plenty of sunlight to go around. The folk heritage museum is housed in a replica traditional Bhutanese house learn first-hand about Bhutan‟s rich cultural traditions, its deeply rooted heritage which spans thousands of years and the Bhutanese way of life. The tour of this almost living museum will also give you a glimpse onto how many rural folk of the country live today following the ancient Bhutanese ways.

National institute of zorig chusum: The art and crafts currently taught in Bhutan, were introduced to the country in the 15th century by Trenton Pema Lingpa. Trenton Pema Lingpa also known as the Great Treasure National Institute for Zorig Chusum - Discoverer is credited to have introduced these art forms to the people of Bhutan. These traditional crafts are a representation of the centuries of knowledge and ability that was been handed down to master craftsmen and artisan through each generation. Bhutan‟s unique artistic tradition has played a vital role in shaping the countries distinct culture and heritage. It was realized that this unique and priceless heritage of the nation need to be protected and promoted with the strong patronage of the royal government. With this vision in mind the royal institute for Zoring Chusum was established in the year 1971 to train the youth in the 13 traditional Arts and Crafts of Bhutan. The institute now falls under the aegis of the National Technical Training Authority which was established in 1990 to ensure high quality vocational training for the people of the country. The institute has now been operational for almost 40 years and has taught students the arts of painting, embroidery, calligraphy, sculpting and wood carving.

Have lunch in town, rest for a while and then visit the following places

Kuensel Phodrang to see the magnificent statue of Buddha (the tallest statue of “sitting Buddha” in the world) and a bird’s eye view of Thimphu. The world's largest 'sitting Buddha' statue (167 ft) sits on top of a mountain which is about 15-20 minutes drive away from town. 'Kuensel' means 'everything is clear' and from this place you can see Thimphu valley both to the north and the south. The Buddha's statue is complete but the whole construction including a temple inside the statue is still not complete. The statue is cast in bronze but since Bhutan does not have any factory which can fabricate such a huge statue, it was built in China in parts and brought to Bhutan to be assembled here.

Takin Conservation Center: Earlier known as the mini zoo, it is on the way to the BBS Tower and it has Takins, Bhutan's national animal along with a couple of barking deers and sambhars. It is a refreshing place to be, as it is in the middle of a pine forest and a short walk from the road. If you miss the weaving center, the caretakers' wives often sit outside in the sun and weave scarves and kiras which help sustain their livelihood.

BBS (Radio) Tower: It is on a ridge end and from there you can get a bird's eye view of Thimphu valley below. A short walk up from the road end will reach you to another hill with thousands of prayer flags fluttering about in the wind. It is a colourful sight and you can feel the serenity of the prayers as you take in the view and the crisp air.

Later in the evening visit Tashichhoe Dzong: Literally means "Glorious Religion Fortress". Located in Thimphu, it is the seat of the Government, Summer residence of the Central Monastic body and it also houses the King's office. It is also the largest structure in Thimphu. Built in the later half of the 17th century and later enlarged in mid 18th century, the Dzong was damaged by fire in 1866 and by an earthquake in 1897. It was later completely renovated in the 1960's but the central tower remains as it is.

Overnight at a hotel in Thimphu.

DAY 4: Thimphu – Phobjikha

Post breakfast drive towards Punakha. On the way, stop at Dochula Pass (3,100 m), where on a sunny day, you can get stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. The Dochu La Pass is probably the best known mountain pass in Bhutan. Located at an altitude of 3150 meter above sea level, the Dochu La Pass is about 30 kilometer away from the capital city Thimphu and the road to Punakha. On a clear day the pass offers visitors a spectacular view of the majestic eastern Himalayan Ranges. A cup of hot coffee or tea at the pass has almost become part of tradition for people travelling to and fro from Punakha to the capital city.

There is a small cafeteria at the pass that offers a chance for travelers to enjoy a hot beverage or a snack, it is located just off the road and overlooks the pass and is an ideal place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Another striking feature at the pass are the 108 Druk Wangyal Khangzang Chortens, that were built for the well-being of all sentiment beings on earth. The 108 Chorten were built as a tribute to the Kings of Bhutan for their selfless service and leadership they offer to the people of Bhutan. These Stupas or Chortens also represent the peoples love, appreciation and loyalty towards the country’s King.

Continue drive towards Punakha, and then further towards Phobjikha valley where you will check-in at your hotel and rest for the day. Phobjikha is the valley of the Black Necked Cranes. This is the winter nesting grounds for the endangered Black Necked Cranes, they start arriving by October end and leave for the Tibetan plateau by February. The valley is believed to have been created by glaciers and is shaped like a bowl, hence the name ‘Phob’ meaning bowl.

Overnight at a hotel in Phobjikha

DAY 5: Phobjikha – Punakha sightseeing

Have breakfast, check-out of your hotel and go for a hike along the Gangtey Nature Trail is a beautiful hike around the valley through lightly covered pine and juniper forests. This is also the closest you will come to the cranes (during winters) as it’s prohibited to go away from the trail and down to the marshes in the valley.

Exit at the hill overlooking the valley and visit Gangtey monastery, a privately funded Buddhist college of Nyingmapa sect. It’s worth going in for a short visit to see the beautiful carvings inside

Then drive to Punakha where you will visit Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility), it is dedicated to Lam Drukpa Kuenley (Divine Mad Man) and is the place from where Phalluses originated as the symbol of fertility and protection and can be seen everywhere in Bhutan, on house walls and roofs and altars.

Punakha Dzong: The Punakha Dzong or the Pungtang Dechen Phortang Dzong is located at the confluence of the Mo Chhu and the Po Chhu River, combine to form the Puna Tsang Chu which in turn is a tributary of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The Dzong was constructed by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1638 on the exact spot as prophesized by the Guru Rinpoche some 800 years ago. According to the prophecy of Guru Rinpoche “a person named Namgyal will arrive at a hill that looks like an elephant”. Another legend associated with the Dzong is that of Zowe Palep, the architect of the Dzong received vision of the Dzong in his sleep. This vision got imprinted in the architects mind and enabled him to construct the Dzong without putting his plans to paper.

It is the second largest and the second oldest Dzong in Bhutan. The Dzong is home to some of the most sacred relics of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism; it is also home to the sacred mortal remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Pema Lingpa the great treasure discoverer of Bhutan. The Dzong has also served as the capital Bhutan till 1955 before the capital was moved to Thimphu. The Dzong is still the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (chief abbot) and the central monastic body and plays host to the annual Punakha Tshechu Festival which is very popular with the locals and tourists alike.

Overnight at a hotel in Punakha

DAY 6: Punakha – Paro

Post breakfast, drive to KHAMSUM YUELLEY NAMGYAL CHORTEN: Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten, a temple that stands majestically on a strategic ridge above Punakha valley. The temple was built by the Queen Mothers to ward off negative energies, promote peace, stability and harmony in a changing world after it was prophesied in the scriptures by Thragthung Dudjom Lingpa.. It is said all its unique architectural designs have been drawn from the scriptures. The hike takes about 45 minutes one way through relatively easy path through paddy fields and thin pine forest. Once at the top, you can enter the stupa and climb all the way to the top for a breath taking view of the valley below.

Post that, trace the road back up to Dochula pass and then down to Thimphu where you can have lunch before moving on towards Paro.

On the way to Paro, visit Tamchog Lhakhang: Tachog lhakhang is temple that is dedicated to the 13th century saint Thangthong Gyalpo, the iron bridge builder. This temple is located across the river about 15kms from the Paro towards Thimphu. In order to get to the temple one must cross an iron chain bridge, one of the few remaining of the many that Thangthong Gyalpo built. This is a private temple however tourists are allowed to visit if they are given permission. Crossing this very old bridge with its swaying and undulating movements can be quite an experience. The temple's location on the ridge and the high rocky barren hills which serve as its backdrop makes this a good location to take pictures.

Overnight at a hotel in Paro.

DAY 7: : Paro – Tiger’s Nest hike

Have early breakfast and drive up to the base of Taktsang Monastery (Tiger’s Nest). The most famous and sacred site among all the places in Bhutan. Guru Padmasambhava is said to have come riding on a flying tigress to this place and meditated in a cave for 3 months, it wasn’t until Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal came to this place and meditated that it gained the popularity that it has now. The present structure is said to be built in the 15th century but was destroyed by fire in 1998 and has been restored.

The walk is about 2 hours till the top through wide pathways which was built during the restoration works. One hour into the climb there is a tea point from where you get a very good view of the monastery, they also serve lunch here. From there it’s about another 45 minutes climb to the 2nd view point and the highest point in the hike.

Plan - Go - Discover

What our customers have to say

A great trip, thank you. Also appreciated Bishnu, our driver.

GINETTE CLAUDINE HENGESCH

What our customers have to say

You have wonderful guides. They are well educated, highly informed problem solver, historian and good communication skills. They showed us presentation from normal programme with different topics. They let us discuss interests – photography and arrange programme accordingly. They always showed positive energy and passion to us. They never argued, instead suggested. We are very happy. My husband was very happy with them as he describe him as professional guide. Thank you so much.

DR. ROLF DIETER

What our customers have to say

Thanks to you and our very nice and patient guide, we had an amazing experience. He was very patient with our questions about Bhutan and very gentlemanly during the entire journey. We appreciate it very much